But the examples quoted serve merely to demonstrate the utter parochialism of our concerns & obsessions about cultural practices which we may regard as just not British but which MUST BE TOLERATED* by all good liberal, inclusive folk.
Example 1: A spectator complains about two men holding hands. You are supposed to explain that ‘there is a huge diversity of people at London 2012, which includes gay, lesbian & bisexual couples.’
Just don’t pass on the information that in some cultures it is perfectly normal for friends to hold hands – how dare you presume to know anything about their sex lives? Even though it is perhaps probable that anyone from those cultures who can afford to come to the Games is likely to be a rich international sophisticate, well aware of British social norms.
Example 2: You are unable to tell whether the person who is asking for directions to the toilets is male or female. You are expected to tell them the way to male, female & ‘accessible’ toilets, not ask them which they require.
Well of course you are. Even if you are 100% certain of their gender why assume that they are asking purely for their own needs & that, since they are not in a wheelchair, they have no problem with ‘inaccessible’ toilets.
Example 3: Should anyone object to a woman being allowed to wear a headscarf, you are supposed to explain that she is wearing a hijab, a form of Muslim headwear which some women ‘choose to wear as part of their faith.’
Well tell that to anyone who asks why the Queen is wearing a headscarf in that photo of her riding in Windsor Great Park. And good luck to you if you can reliably distinguish between a headscarf, hijab, & a nun’s veil.
And wasn’t ‘An Olympics spokeswoman’ herself being a tad insensitive when she explained the need to ‘ensure that all volunteers would be singing ‘from the same hymn sheet’?
*From Latin tolerāre to bear, endure
Link
London 2012: Diversity & inclusion
Related post
Habit or hijab
A fashion item
London 2012: Diversity & inclusion
Related post
Habit or hijab
A fashion item
